budget woes

so for the first few months sticking to the budget was easy because it was winter and there wasn't a whole lot going on. now it is warm out and almost every day it seems like is an invitation to dinner out or a happy hour or a party or something. i try to keep costs down by ordering cheap beer and eating at home as much as possible but my budget is hurting.

it's only may 18 and i am already slightly over my entertainment budget. the good thing is that i am way under my grocery budget so i have some flexibility. i figure with entertainment + groceries + eating out, as long as it all comes out under then i am ok even if i overspend in one of the areas.

another problem i have been having is things breaking or needing new things. like for example my car repairs last month. but also stuff like this month my belt broke so i need a new belt. i also had two pairs of pajama bottoms fall apart and had to get new ones. i needed new black shoes for work and i used up all my citronella candles so i had to restock. my budgets for these types of things (clothes, household items, etc.) are pretty low so i am constantly going over. it's ok so far because i really did not spend on any of these things in the first couple months of the year, but it's annoying. there's no way i can get through two more years like this so i'm probably going to have to adjust my budget... which means paying off my credit cards will take longer. blah.

i really really want to go to chicago this weekend for memorial day, but according to my budget i totally shouldn't. i have no entertainment money left and only a little eating out money. i did just get a $120 check for transportation reimbursement from work, so that is available, but what i should do is put it in the bank for my friends' wedding that i am saving for at the end of june. and anyway i know there is no way i am going to go to chicago for 4 days and only spend $120.

on the other hand, i am damn sick of being stuck in cincinnati. the only time i have gotten out of here recently was for the final four in detroit, and it's not like that was much of a vacation because while it was fun, i'm from detroit so it wasn't that exciting to hang out there. however i am going to chicago at the end of june anyway for the wedding, and i have no money, and the final four was amazing and i did just go to new york for new year's.

ok, i think i have maybe talked myself out of it. i guess maybe i really do not need to go out of town right now. dammit. saving money is so boring.